The purpose of this course was to better understand the ability of the essay to tell different stories and to explain different topics. The three specific essays we had to complete for this class was a memoir or an autobiographical essay, a profile essay on a person, place, or thing and a critical critique or argument essay.
Autobiographical Essay: This essay was focused on writing a story about yourself. We picked an event in our lives that was important to us and meant something. This essay made us focus on accurately describing a dramatic or life- altering event that could tell a story about ourselves.
Profile Essay: This essay was focused on profiling someone or something(for instance, a place or a product). Either of these are topics are ones that the author should have a personal connection with. Description was a necessary tool in writing this piece to allow the reader to have a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
The Cultural critique/Argument Essay: This essay focuses on an object, trend, fad, or other phenomenon as the subject of its analysis. Categories such as technology, violence, gender, and education fall under "Cultural Critique". As authors we could focus on topics beyond these categories. A topic that is current and is of interest & importance to us and to our audience. Implementing the techniques of narrative and description, as we have practiced in the last two essays. This piece of writing will also expect the the additional third dimension of argument:"... outline the key points, present evidence, and refute the opponent's position" The implied lesson or thesis must be present--the essay must be anchored around a main point.
